Improved apparatus for receiving and delivering mail-bags



J. J. COOPER.

Mail-Bag Catcher.

Patented Mar. 27, 1866.

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WWW MW ZZZ/M59 NFETERS. PNOTOLITHOGRAPNER. WASHINGTON. B C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN J. COOPER, OF OLMSTED, OHIO.

IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR RECEIVING AND DELIVERING MAIL-BAGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 53,417, dated March 27, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. OooPER, of Olmsted, in the county of Ouyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Apparatus for Beceiving and Delivering Mail-Bags; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and complete description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a top view. Fig. 2 is aside view.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the views.

My improvement relates to an apparatus for receiving and delivering mail-bags from cars simultaneously, or for receiving and delivering separately, while the train is in motion.

In the drawings, A represents the frame which, when the apparatus is in use, the part a is boltd to an arm that extends out of'the I mail-car. Tothe frame Ais connected armsA by means of screw-bolts a, that extend through the arms and frame at or near the center, and also form pivots 0, on which the arms move.

B is a brace extending from one arm to the other, and is bolted with the arm A, a washer being between the brace and arm, and the brace being so connected to the bolts a as to allow the arms to work easily, and at the same time aids in keeping the arms in their respective positions. The pins (I prevent the arms from opening too far.

B is a catch that is pivoted at e to one of the arms A, the end passing through a slot, 9, in said arm. Near the otherend of this catch is a stop, 0. (Shown in the dottedlines.) This stop catches against the side of the arm A, and the spring 0 holds or retains it in place, thus keeping the arms open. This catch B is for the purpose of holding the arms open when they are to receive the mail-bag. To the inside and at one end of these arms are bolted springs b bymeans of bolts 1), as shown which springs, together with the springs c that are bolted to the frame at 0, force that end of the arms open, which lets the hanger 0 fall, thus dropping the bag that is hung on it. The part roof the frame, being bolted to an arm that extends fram the car, as before stated, is supported in position by said arm, which arm can be hinged to the ear and be swung round into the door of the car, or can be moved out and in laterally, as may be desired, and when swung out of the car extends over the platform, so that the arms A will receive the bag which is hung on said platform in a proper position to be caught by the arms. The cars passing in the direction of the arrow, the bag passes into the arms A, hitting against the catch E and forcing it out of place. Then by the action of the springsb and cthe other end of the arms is forced open, which causes the arms to catch the bag and hold it. At same time they drop the bag from the hanger O, which falls as the ends of the arms open, as indicated by the dotted lines, the dotted lines in Fig. 2 showing the hanger when it is dropped.

The springs b can be dispensed with and the springs a curved round so as to come against the arms, thus using only two springs.

This apparatus can be used when a bagis to be delivered from the car and not one returned to it by hanging something in the place of the bag that will trip the catch and cause the springs b and c to open that end of the arms and drop the bag, orone can be received alone, as desired.

What I claim as my improvement, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The arms A, pivoted to the frame A, in combination with the catch B and spring 0, in the manner and for the purpose substantially as set forth.

2. The arms A and hanger U, in combination with the springs c and I), substantially as and for the purpose described.

JOHN J. COOPER.

Witnesses W. H. BURRIDGE, B. A. ADAMS. 

